Roller skate



Jam 1942- i J. s. COLDWELL ET AL 9,980

' ROLLER SKATE Filed Nov. 6, 1959 2' Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VENTOR, Jaw/V 3. 0040 W544 BY POZfi/VD 7. $057.56

ATTORNEY.

Jan. 6, 1942. I J. s. COLDWELL ET AL 2,269,080 I ROLLER SKATE Filed Nov. 6, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 m iimml 11 4,, M. Ma

- ATTORNEY.

Patented Jan. 6, 1942 ROLLER SKATE John S. Coldwe'll and Roland I I. Goets ch, Milwaukee,-Wis., assignors to. Globe-Union Inc., Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Delaware Application November 6, 1039, Serial No. 302,981

2 Claims.

'This invention relates .to roller skates especially designed and adapted for use in rink skating. The object of the invention is to improve the action of the running gear of the skate and to accomplish this so advantageously as to make the skate easier to steer, and in so doing take the normal load and absorb the shock loads in the cushioning pads embodied in the running gear.

Another object of the invention is to simplify and compact the construction of the running gear, render it strong and durable, and yet maintain it capable of economical production on a commercial scale from materials and by means of facilities ordinarily available.

A further object of the invention is to adapt and combine the steering mechanism of the running gear, which is of the rink type, with a certain standard type of truck hanger which itself possesses a number of practical advantages.

In carrying out the present invention the axle bracket and truck hanger are combined and .interrelated in special manner, in that one end of the axle bracket has a trunnion'which is interfitted with one end of the truck hanger for transverse-rocking as well as longitudinal sliding movement. At the opposite end of the axle bracket a cushioning pad of rubber or other material of suitable elasticity is interposed-between the axle bracket and the truck hanger. Means is provided for compressing the cushion pad and for so effectively interconnecting it with both the axle bracket and truck hanger that it is capable of and does take normal as well as shock loads, and also facilitates steering of the skate.

Other objects and advantages reside in certain novel features of the construction, arrangement, and combination of parts, which will be hereinafter more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which:

' Figure 1 is a view in side'eleva'tion showing a roller skate embodying the present invention in that type of skate structurein which the chassis or frame ofthe skate is adjustable.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view in vertical cross section taken on line 2-2 of Figure 3.

Figure 3 is a view in bottom plan, the structure bined therewith, the structure being verted; and 5 Figure '5 is a group View in perspective showing the running gear at the toe or front of the skate disassembled and that of the rear as assembled, the invention being illustrated inFigure 5 as embodied in a shoe type of skate which has a one piece and inextensible frame or chassis.

Referring to the drawings, it will be seen that in the form of the invention shown in Figures 1 and 3, the roller skate, designated generally at I0, is of the type which is adjustable, in that it has a toe plate H and a heel plate l2 suitably interconnected in longitudinal adjustment and retained in suitable adjustment by means of fastening devices IS. The details of this longitudinal adjustable frame or chassis per se form no part'of the present invention, and may be of any suitable or standard construction.

In the form of the invention shown in Figure 5, the frame or chassis of the skate is designated generally at l5, and preferably is stamped of a single piece of sheet metal. Here again the particular construction of the frame or chassis per se forms no part of the present'invention, and in fact the frame orchassis l5 shown in Figure 5 is fully described and claimed in an application of Roland H. Goetsch, filed October2l, 1939, Serial No. 300,508, and owned by the assignee of.

shown inthe present application.

Both types of skate frames or chassis have been illustrated to bring out that the present invention is applicable with equal advantage to either type of structure.

In both embodiments of the invention, truck hangers, designated generally at T, are provided skate, and also assigned to the assignee of the present application.

Each truck hanger comprises an inclined body plate I! having integral with its side edges vertical side plates l9, which are in turn formed at their upper'edges with integral attaching flanges 2| disposed flush against and spot welded to the under side of the frame or chassis of the skate. The upper end of the inclined body plate of each truck hanger has an integral, downwardly extending, apertured bearing lug IS. The body plate of each truck hanger and its bearing lug I8 are reinforced by means of a reinforcing strip 20 of angular formation and corresponding in size and shape to the body plate, and to the bearing lug I8, this reinforcing strip being fitted flush against the body portion I9 of each truck hanger and its bearing lug I8, and being spot welded thereto, and having an opening I8 therein which registers with the aperture or opening in the bearing lug.

At the lower end of each truck hanger the body plate is fashioned to constitute a seat 22, which is formed with a central opening 23. The reinforcing strip 20 has a portion 20' which is upset or extruded into the opening 23, and the extruded portion of the reinforcing strip is provided with an internally threaded opening, somewhat smaller than the opening 23 but coaxial therewith. On the opposite sides of the opening 23 the body plate has locking lugs or keys 24 struck upwardly therefrom. A retaining cup 25 is combined with each truck hanger and has an end wall 26 formed with grooves or key-ways 21, which fit over the keys 24 of the body plate. Each retaining cup 25 also has a peripheral flange 28 integral with its end plate, and of a special shape, in that it is of gradually increasing height, for a purpose which will hereinafter more clearly appear.

An axle bracket, designated generally at 30, is combined with each truck hanger, and includes a plate-like body portion 3|, also strengthened by virtue of the provision of a reinforcing strip 32 disposed flush against the body of the bracket and spot welded thereto. At one end the axle bracket 30 is provided with an integral lug 33 corresponding generally to the lug l8 of its truck hanger, and having riveted or otherwise suitably secured thereto a trunnion 34, which in the assembly is interfitted with the opening or aperture of the lug I8, andof its reinforcing strip, in such manner as to be rotatable and rockable therein, and also slidable axially or longitudinally with respect thereto.

At the end of the axle bracket, opposite its trunnion 34, a retaining cup 35 is provided and may conveniently be formed as an integral part of the axle bracket. The cup 35 has its body portion constituted by the part of the bracket proper and its reinforcing strip, and has its peripheral flange 3B integral with the said bracket. This flange 36 need not be a complete circular annulus, and in fact in actual manufacture is not. It does, however, possess the same general structural characteristics as the flange of the cup 25, in that it is of gradually increasing height.

In the assembly the parts are so related that the high portions of the flange 28 of the cup 25 are disposed opposite to the corresponding high portions of the flange 35 of the cup 35.

Bearing sleeves 40 for receiving the axle, which supports the roller skate wheels, may also be formed as integral parts of each axle bracket.

A cushioning member 4| is interposed between each truck hanger and its axle bracket. Preferably each cushioning member 4| is in the form of a cylinder of rubber or other suitable elastic material. One end of each cylinder 4| is received in and confined by the retaining cup 25, whereas the opposite end of each cylinder is received in and confined by the retaining cup 35.

For maintaining the parts assembled, and imposing the desirable pressure on each cushioning member, a bolt 42 is combined with each truck hanger and axle bracket assembly. Each bolt 42 has a head 43 disposed below its axle bracket and efiectively engaged therewith, although preferably a washer 44 is interposed between the head of the bolt and the adjacent portion of its axle bracket. The shank 45 of each bolt is extended through slots 46 provided in the body of each axle bracket and its reinforcing strip, and after passing through the slot the shank of the bolt extends through the axial opening in the cushioning member 4| and has its upper threaded end engaged with the threads on the extruded portion 20' of its truck hanger. The upper threaded end of the shank of each bolt projects above the body plate of its truck hanger and receives a nut and washer 41.

With this construction the axle brackets are floatably mounted at their upper ends so that the rigid mechanical elements of the structure are relieved of shock loads and to large extent of the normal load. The elastic cushioning members 4|, combined as they are with each axle bracket 30 and truck hanger T and con fined .by the retaining cups 25 and 35, very effectively take the shock loads and also perform a large office in the handling of the normal loads. The structure provides a skate which is easier to steer and yet the durability of the skate is substantially enhanced. These advantages are had in a construction which is very simple, highly compacted and closely organized, and easy and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

The openings of the elastic cushioning member 4| are larger than the bolts 42 so that the axle brackets are free not only to rock transversely but also shift a limited distance longitudinally, their floating mountings provided by the trunnions 34 permitting this. Of course, all such movement is restrained by the action of the cushioning members 4|.

From the foregoing it will be understood that the present invention provides a roller skate running gear or steering mechanism, which is of the ring steer type. Adjustment of the steering action may be readily made by the skater. If a stiff action is desired or preferred, the bolts 42 are tightened up, whereas if a loose or easy ac tion is preferred by the skate, then these bolts are backed off. The running gear or steering mechanism of the skate is so constituted that there are three components of motion in its action, namely, first, the transverse rocking or pivoting about the axis of the trunnions 34; second, the direct compression or cushioning action of the cushioning members 4|, the trunnions 34 tilting over and aft to provide for this; and, third, the transverse compression of the cushioning members between the high portions of 'the flanges of the retaining cups 25 and 35, which occurs when the axle brackets move longitudinally.

These advantages are had in a running gear or steering mechanism which is constituted of stamped sheet metal parts by so constituting the parts that the skates are adapted to quantity production on a commercial scale and with substantial economy.

While we have shown and described several constructions in which the invention may be advantageously embodied, it is to be understood that the constructions shown have been selected merely for the purpose of illustration or exampie, and that various changes in the size, shape, and arrangement of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

We claim:

1. In a roller skate, a truck hanger formed of sheet metal and having an inclined body plate and integral side plates formed with attaching flanges whereby the hanger may be attached to the body of a skate, said body plate having an apertured bearing lug integral with one end thereof, the opposite end of the body plate being formed to constitute a seat, a reinforcing strip conforming in contour to the body plate, applied to the upper side thereof and welded thereto and having an apertured bearing lug conforming in outline to the bearing lug of the hanger plate j and having an internally threaded opening underlying the aperture of said seat, a retaining cup abutting said seat, interengageable means between the cup and the seat for preventing rotation of the cup, a cushioning pad having one end received in and confined by said cup, an axle bracket having :3. lug at one end, a trunnion fixed to and projecting from said lug and extending through the apertures of the lugs of the body plate of the hanger bracket and of its reinforcing strip, a retaining cup integrally formed with the opposite end of the axle bracket and receiving and confining the other end of the cushioning pad, and a bolt coacting with the threaded opening of the strip and with the axle bracket for retaining the par-ts assembled,

2. In a roller skate, an inclined truck hanger, an axle bracket pivoted to said hanger, the axis of said pivotal connection inclined with said hanger, a cushion pad positioned between said hanger and said bracket, said pad having lateral side portions substantially normal to said axis, a retainin member on said hanger engaging the upper portionof the lateral side of said pad to prevent it from moving upwardly with respect to said inclined hanger, and a retaining member on said bracket engaging the lower portion of the lateral side of said pad to prevent said bracket from moving upwardly with respect to said inclined hanger except as permitted by the resistance of said pad to the transverse compressive force exerted upon it by said members. 

